Why Las Vegas Locals
Love South Point Casino
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Las Vegas has no shortage of spectacular resorts, celebrity restaurants and over-the-top attractions. We love those too. But one of the pleasures of living here is having places that offer a completely different kind of Las Vegas experience.
Located at the southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard, South Point is especially convenient for us coming up from Henderson. There’s plenty of free parking, and the atmosphere is relaxed, casual and come-as-you-are. There isn’t an elaborate theme and there isn’t much pretense. It’s simply a comfortable place to spend an afternoon or evening.
And after living here for years, we’ve developed quite a few South Point favorites.
When Gymkhana—one of London’s most celebrated Indian restaurants—opened its first Las Vegas location, it quickly became one of the city’s most anticipated dining destinations. While a reservation is certainly on my list, I was equally excited to discover that several of the restaurant’s signature simmer sauces are available to order online.
For this dinner party, I built the menu around three of those sauces: Green Tikka, Butter Masala, and Goan Coconut Curry. Each one delivers the depth and complexity of Gymkhana’s distinctive flavors, making it easy to create an elegant Indian-inspired meal at home while adding a few personal touches.
Prawn Coconut Curry & Curry-Pickled Onions
GYMKHANA NIGHT MENU
NAAN
Garlic Yogurt Green Chutney
CHILEAN SEA BASS
Butter Masala
Warm Cream Swirl, Cilantro, Jalapeño
ROASTED HARIYALI CORN
Green Tikka Marinade, Deggi Mirch, Chopped Cilantro
Naan & Garlic Yogurt Green Chutney
The silky Butter Masala was a natural pairing for buttery Chilean sea bass, finished with a swirl of warm cream, fresh cilantro, and sliced jalapeño. Sweet prawns nestled into the fragrant Goan Coconut Curry, then were garnished with chile oil, cilantro, and edible flowers for a vibrant presentation. Roasted corn, coated in the herbaceous Green Tikka marinade, added smoky flavor and bright color to the plate.
Hariyali Corn & Saffron Basmati
To complete the meal, saffron basmati rice was finished with toasted cashews, jewel-like pomegranate arils, fresh mint, and cilantro. Curry-pickled red onions added a tangy counterpoint that balanced the richness of the curries, while warm naan and a cool garlic yogurt chutney tied everything together.
The result was an elegant dinner inspired by one of London’s iconic Indian restaurants, yet relaxed enough to enjoy at home with friends. Three exceptional sauces provided the foundation, while high-quality seafood, summer corn, plenty fresh herbs, and thoughtful garnishes made the evening uniquely my own.
An unforgettable dinner at Bazaar Meat Las Vegas by José Andrés inspired me to bring a little more of Spain into my own kitchen. After the meal, I ordered his newest cookbook, Spain My Way: Eat, Drink, and Cook Like a Spaniard, eager to explore the recipes and stories behind the cuisine that has shaped his cooking.
As I turned the pages, I came across Tomates Aliñados, a simple tomato salad served at a tiny country bar in southern Spain. It is described as a peaceful place surrounded by vegetable gardens and sugarcane fields, with just a handful of tables where guests gather for leisurely meals. The setting is humble, but the salad is a classic expression of Spanish cooking—ripe tomatoes dressed with excellent olive oil and paired with Manchego cheese and anchovies.
Today I’m sharing my recreation of this beautifully simple Spanish salad, along with a few photos from our dinner at Bazaar Meat—the memorable meal that inspired me to discover Spain My Way in the first place.
Fettuccine alla Papalina
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Inspired by Mother Wolf Las Vegas
An exceptional dinner at Mother Wolf at Fontainebleau Las Vegas inspired this recreation of one of the evening’s most memorable dishes: Fettuccine alla Papalina. While every course was beautifully prepared—from the crisp, golden Fiori di Zucca (batter-fried squash blossoms filled with ricotta) to the spectacular Branzino alla Brace (whole wood-grilled Mediterranean sea bass)—it was the seemingly simple pasta that stole the show.
Mother Wolf’s Fettuccine alla Papalina combines prosciutto cotto, melted butter, English peas, and Parmigiano Reggiano in a dish that proves how a handful of carefully chosen ingredients can create something truly unforgettable. Inspired by that memorable plate, I recreated my own version at home.
My recipe follows, along with photographs from our evening at Mother Wolf, including the beautiful dining room and several of our favorite dishes.
Fettuccine alla Papalina is a classic Roman pasta. According to culinary tradition, the dish was created in Rome in the 1930s at a restaurant near the Vatican for Pope Pius XII, who requested a lighter, more refined version of the beloved Roman pasta dishes of the time.
Inspired by carbonara, the original preparation replaced guanciale with prosciutto and used butter, eggs, and Parmigiano Reggiano to create a silky, delicate sauce. Over time, variations have emerged, with some chefs adding ingredients such as peas or onion, but the essence of Fettuccine alla Papalina remains the same: a simple yet elegant Roman pasta built around exceptional ingredients.
Few celebrity food favorites are as iconic as Elvis Presley’s love of peanut butter and bananas. Over the years, the combination has taken on a life of its own, becoming known simply as “Elvis” on dessert menus across the country.
Whether served in a sandwich, milkshake, cupcake, or sundae, the pairing evokes a bit of rock-and-roll nostalgia. At Sadelle’s Café Las Vegas, those classic flavors are reimagined with peanut butter cookies, caramelized bananas, vanilla ice cream, and chocolate sauce for a dessert that’s irresistible.
The sundae starts with creamy vanilla ice cream, then layers on quartered bananas that have been caramelized on the cut side until golden. A generous swirl of whipped cream is topped with chocolate chips and a drizzle of caramel sauce, while warm chocolate sauce is served in a silver pitcher for pouring over each serving just before digging in.